A chronicle of Issues, Studies, News and other items of interest regarding Mormonism (2006-2013)

Monday, March 19, 2007

Author to Speak about LDS First Presidency

Author to Speak about LDS First Presidency Statements

Salt Lake City—The compiler of a book of quotes from the topleadership of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints willspeak at Benchmark Books, Thursday, March 22, at 5:00 p.m. The storeis located at 3269 South Main Street in Salt Lake City. The public isinvited to join in this discussion.

The book, "Statements of the LDS First Presidency: A TopicalCompedium," was compiled over the course of several years by GaryJames Bergera, director of the Smith-Pettit Foundation in Salt LakeCity. Dale C. LeCheminant, a former professor with the Church'sInstitutes of Religion, wrote the foreword. The book contains excerptsfrom official statements, sorted alphabetically by topic.

Members of the Church are taught that the authority to speak for Godrests solely with the First Presidency, whose communications areconsidered authoritative whether touching on doctrine, theology,Church administration, or matters of individual responsibility. TheFirst Presidency also maintains the exclusive prerogative to interpretscripture for the Church.

As Mormons find themselves at the center of national discussions, thepositions their Church has taken on moral and other issues are ofincreasing interest to outsiders. The publisher, Signature Books,envisions that this volume will provide journalists and scholars witha valuable resource for understanding official Mormon concepts inareas of theology and Church structure.